RD64

While it may seem premature, NCL is being proactive. Some cruise lines had Israeli / Middle East ports all winter. For others, the 2024 Mediterranean season is starting as early as February / March. By cancelling now, they are able to re-jig their itineraries, find alternate ports without scrambling at the last moment, and avoiding the passenger angst and uncertainty about not getting the cruise that they have always dreamed of, and it is all NCL’s fault. Would you rather decisions made now, or later when you have already booked your non-refundable airfare and do not approve of the revised itineraries?

Your “prisoner” comment seems a little extreme.

But if HAL wants the best of the best, should they not be offering a hire base wage as an incentive?

But then sadly people will complain when they get their guarantee and it is not a cabin that they want, or a location that they don’t want.

But room and board are paid for. Plus the oppty to see the world. May we ask in what capacity they work? Shops / entertainment staff? My impression is that all other staff will be international.

Reheat your coffee? What coffee exactly?

At the end of the day, nobody is forcing anybody to book / pay for suite accommodations. If the price is more than you are able / willing to pay then you can book an interior or go to another cruise line. Celebrity is a business - not a charity - and their goal is to maximize profits - not to offer suites at discount prices. And no, I am not a Celebrity Cheerleader - just a Business / Economics teacher.

Personally - On a cruise I turn on the television while getting dressed for dinner to catch up on whatever news channel is available - and maybe a movie to fall asleep to. I can watch all the television I want when I am not on vacation - I do not go on a vacation to watch television - but to each his own.

Exactly - who would be responsible for cleaning them?

@millybess everyone was looking forward to their Holy Land cruise- but was nobody interested in doing it as an actual land vacation - just a drive-by?

Not full now - but anything can happen within six months - for example all the people that really want to go - all waiting for a lower price - realizing price may not actually be reduced - finally biting the bullet and booking it.

I use duct tape to place my initials in very large letters on the outside of my luggage - both sides.

On Holland America it is the room stewards that retrieve / deliver the luggage for their sections. Probably nobody has ever given this much thought - but who else do you expect to deliver the luggage to your cabin?

To piggyback on @DCGuy64’s post. During the summer of 2016 there was military unrest in Turkey. We anticipated that the port of Kusadasi would be cancelled and a substitution take place. They kept Kusadasi and everyone was in an uproar. We planned on staying on board for safety expecting to see a town overrun with military and tanks. Curiosity got the best of us and we ventured into the port area, then the town, had a great lunch and several Turkish coffees then off to one of the best Mediterranean beach days ever. Had we followed the media reports etc, we would have never had this experience. By no means am I advising going blindly into the wind - everyone needs to make their own informed decisions.

Sounds like the OP was planning on putting in a shift in the airport lounge. This is not an EVA orcViking issue, but an OP issue.

Olivegate - love this thread - as it will never die.

Or you can avoid all of the subterfuge and just purchase your drinks on the ship.

I am sorry but I must agree with the previous poster. You already know what the situation is, but it appears that you are looking for people that will justify bending the rules in your favour - not being rude - just being honest - and sadly many people do not like being confronted with honesty. And if you truly want to dine with your friends, you always have the option of dining down in steerage with them - or - they can upgrade their reservations to dine with you. Problem solved!

All of this plotting - and maybes - and hopefully’s and possibly not necessarily so - makes it sound like a lot more work than actually being at work - as opposed to being on vacation.

I am literally having one at this moment - and I am at home.

“Supposed to” being the operative words - anything is possible.

Cabins can also be reassigned.

Or you could have just booked the actual cabin grade you wanted. Not being snarky, just being honest.

Yes they do - however - by the time I discovered it on Day 3 of a B2B cruise to Alaska in August it was already sold out in the shops. It would not be replenished until the return to Vancouver, so sadly none for me to purchase. That being said, I did spend the next eleven days drinking De Lijn. There are also several drinks made with DeLijn - found on the last page of the drink menu. I have been struggling to recall - but I believe one was called the Rembrandtini - or something like that that had a Dutch cultural significance - very , very good but I did find it strong.

A De Lijn gin and tonic - truly the best gin ever. Anything made with De Lijn gin is exceptional. Mind you I also enjoy a good Negroni - especially if Benji at the Ocean Bar on the Noordam is making them.